License plate frame assembly system and method

ABSTRACT

A system, computer program and method for creating a user-customized license plate frame. The system and method incorporate a license plate frame, weather-resistant paper for displaying the user-customized message, laminate for positioning over the weather-resistant paper, as well as electronic and printed instructions showing the user how to use the provided electronic templates to create a user-customized message. A computer program causes the display of an electronic template configured to receive text and graphics that represent a user-customized message. This template is further configured to define a display area that represents an outer surface of the license plate frame. The template is also configured to receive input of the user-customized message; and format the user-customized message for printing onto the weather-resistant paper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 USC §119 (e), this application claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/738,950 filed onNov. 22, 2005, in the names of inventors Karen and Lee Watters, andtitled “License Plate Frame Assembly Kit and Method”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present disclosure relates. to license plate frames and, moreparticularly, to a system, computer program and method for creating andassembling a user-customized license plate frame.

2. Description of Related Art

License plate frames have become expressive media. End users of licenseplate frames—including automobile owners or those having the owner'spermission—may wish to display customized messages on their licenseplate frames. These customized messages may include text and graphics.The messages may relate to political expression, advertising and/orpromotions.

At present, end users regularly rely on others, e.g., molding orengraving professionals, to assemble and prepare customized messages forlicense plate frames. The message may be molded onto the frame withraised text and/or graphics. However, these molded or engraved framesmay be relatively expensive. Moreover, relying on professional(s) tocreate the messages gives the end users less control over the process.In addition, these frames are often pre-manufactured, and may notnecessarily convey the message that the user desires.

Silk-screened license plate frames are also available. However, theseframes often must be purchased in larger quantities. Moreover, as withthe engraved license plate frames, professionals often must be reliedupon to prepare and assemble the license plate frames.

In addition to the engraved or molded frames and the silk-screenedframes, off-the-shelf press-on letters could be applied to a licenseplate frame. However, this combination of press-on letters and a framedo not give the user much control over the design or durability. Theuser's expression is limited to the press-on items and its correspondingtext and graphics. Moreover, the manual application of the letters mightresult in greater layout errors and possibly ruining the aesthetics ofthe frame. This may cause the end user to waste time and money.

There is a need for a license plate frame assembly system and methodthat allows a user to customize the frame autonomously and at a lowcost.

There is also a need for a license plate frame assembly system andmethod that permit a user to assemble the customized frame with areduced possibility of layout errors.

Moreover, the user may wish to have a convenient way to change thedisplay on his or her license plate frame. There is still further a needfor a license plate frame assembly system and method that allows a userto easily change the message that is displayed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present disclosure addresses the needs noted above by providing auser-customized license plate frame assembly system, computer programand method.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system isprovided for a user-customizable license plate frame. The systemcomprises at least one license plate frame configured to be positionedon a license plate. The system further comprises a weather-resistantdisplay mount configured to receive a printed user-customized message,wherein the weather-resistant display mount is configured to be attachedto an outer surface of the license plate frame. Moreover, the systemcomprises a computer-readable medium that contains program instructionsconfigured to receive input of a user-customized message and format theuser-customized message for printing onto the weather-resistant displaymount.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, acomputer program containing program instructions for creating auser-customizable license plate. When executed by a computer processor,the program instructions cause the processor to perform the steps of:causing the display of an electronic template configured to receive textand graphics that represent a user-customized message, and wherein theelectronic template is further configured to define a display area thatrepresents an outer surface of the license plate frame; receiving inputof the user-customized message; and formatting the user-customizedmessage for printing onto a weather-resistant display mount that isconfigured to be positioned on the license plate frame.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, amethod is provided for creating a user-customized license plate frame.The method comprises: providing at least one license plate frame that isconfigured to be positioned on a license plate; and causing the displayof an electronic template configured to receive text and graphics thatrepresent a user-customized message. The electronic template is furtherconfigured to define a display area that represents an outer surface ofthe license plate frame. The computer program also contains programinstructions for receiving electronic input of the user-customizedmessage; providing a weather-resistant display mount that is configuredto receive a printed user-customized message, wherein theweather-resistant display mount is configured to be attached to an outersurface of the license plate frame; and electronically formatting theuser-customized message for printing onto the weather-resistant displaymount.

These, as well as other objects, features and benefits will now becomeclear from a review of the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for creating a user-customized license plateframe in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed front view of a license plate frame inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a computer workstation that may be employed by a userto create a user-customized license plate frame from a template inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a screenshot of a template that may be used togenerate a user-customized message in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a brochure that illustrates some of the types of message thatcould be displayed in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides a system, computer program and methodfor creating and assembling a user-customized license plate frame. Thepresent disclosure provides ways for end users to express themselvesthrough messages that include text and/or graphics. The messages may bechosen by the users. The messages may relate to just about any topic,including but not limited to, topics related to political expression,advertising, promotions, organizations, or favorite sports teams.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated is an assembly system for auser-customized license plate frame in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As shown, the system 200 may include a licenseplate frame 100 having an aperture 105 therethrough for viewing alicense plate. The system also may include weather-resistant paper 220and computer readable media, e.g., compact disk 230, containingelectronic instructions and one or more templates for creating auser-customized message for positioning on a license plate frame.Printed instructions 240 also may be included with system 200.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated is a detailed front view of alicense plate frame in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The license plate frame 100 is generally rectangular inshape, having an aperture 105 therethrough.

The license plate frame 100 includes upper and lower horizontallyextending portions 102 and 104. Additionally, the license plate frame100 includes vertically disposed end portions 106 extending between andintegrally connected to the opposite ends of the horizontally extendingportions. Each of portions 102, 104, 106 is on the outer surface of thelicense plate frame 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, connector portions 108 extend belowhorizontally extending portion 102. A screw aperture 110 may be formedthrough each of the connector portions 108. A screw (not shown) may beplaced through these screw apertures 110 for securedly or fixedlypositioning the license plate frame onto a license plate and a vehicle.

The license plate frame 100 may be a custom-molded or off-the-shelflicense plate frame that is manufactured using injection molding or anyother process that would allow the creation of a license plate frame.The license plate frame may be composed of—or include in itsmake-up—plastic or any other material suitable for license plate frames.Because a license plate frame may be exposed to inclement weather, itmay be desirable for its material to be relatively durable andweather-resistant resistant. The top portion 120 and bottom portion 130of license plate frame 10—which are located on an outer surface of theframe when the frame is in use—may define a display area for auser-customized message. The vertically disposed end portions 106 of thelicense plate frame 100—which also are located on an outer surface ofthe frame when the frame is in use—may also define display areas for theuser-customized message.

Software files may be supplied with the system to assist the user increating a user-customized message. Referring back to FIG. 1, compactdisk 230 may contain computer readable files or programs that cause thedisplay of a template for use in generating text and/or graphics andformatting same for display on a license plate frame. Although a compactdisk 230 is used in this example, it should be understood that any formof removable storage media may be used to store the software files.

The software may be used in conjunction with—or may be displayed in—aword processing program, e.g., MICROSOFT.™ WORD.™, MICROSOFT.™ WORKS.™,APPLEWORKS.™, WORDPERFECT.™ or any number of word processing programs.The software may also be used in conjunction with —or may be displayedin—a graphic design program, e.g., ADOBE.™ PHOTOSHOP.™, ADOBE.™PHOTOSHOP.™ ELEMENTS.™ and/or MICROSOFT.™ PAINT.™. The software mayformat the message so that it fits onto the outer surface of a licenseplate frame. The message may be formatted to fit into any one or more ofthe top portion 120, the bottom portion 130, one of the two verticallydisposed end portions 106, or other outward facing surface of thelicense plate frame 100.

One or more software files on compact disk 230 may be saved onto thehard drive of the user's personal computer.

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated is a computer workstation that maybe employed by a user to create a user-customized license plate framefrom a template in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The computer workstation 300 includes, within console 365, acentral processing unit (processor), random access memory (RAM) andread-only memory (ROM), a display 310 e.g., a monitor, a keyboard 320for input into the workstation, and a mouse 330 also for input into theworkstation. Compact disk slot 340 may be used for removable storagemedia such as the compact disk having templates and instructions. Thecomputer may also have other permanent storage such as a hard drive forsaving the electronic file containing templates on the user's computer.

Apart from the computer workstation, scissors 370 are also shown. Thescissors 370 may be used to cut the weather-resistant paper 360 alonglines generated by the software. The lines represent portions of theweather-resistant paper that may be detached so that theweather-resistant paper is the size of, or smaller than, the licenseplate frame. Using this technique, by detaching portions of theweather-resistant paper, the paper is sized to fit and/or adhere to thelicense plate frame.

The software files may include electronic templates that serve as guidesfor inputting the desired user-customized message. The template may beused to format the message. In this connection, the template may providea field for inputting a message to be placed within the top portion of alicense plate frame. Likewise, the template may provide a field for userinput of a message to be placed within the bottom portion of a licenseplate frame. The template may provide for user input of a messagesuitable for placement onto other portions of the license plate frame.

As shown in FIG. 4, a screenshot 400 is provided for a template for usein creating a user-customized message. Several distinct fields 410, 420,430, 440, 450, 460, 470, 480 may be provided on the screen. The user maysimply input the desired text and/or graphics into the distinct fields.In accordance with this example, pairs of fields may be used torepresent the top and bottom portions, respectively, of the licenseplate frame. For example, fields 410 may represent a place for a messageto be positioned at the top portion of a license plate frame, whilefield 420 may represent a place for a message to be positioned at thebottom portion of a license plate frame. It should be noted that thetemplate also may be configured to create a message(s) suitable forplacement in one or both vertically disposed end portions of a licenseplate frame or other outward facing surface of the license plate frame.

The screenshot illustrates that messages may be created for use withmultiple license plate frames, and the messages may be printed on asingle sheet of 8-½″ ×11″ weather-resistant paper.

The user may create the message by inputting keystrokes that representcharacters. User input also may be images for display on a license plateframe.

The weather-resistant paper may be used to semi-permanently mount thepaper onto the license plate frame.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the weather-resistant paper 360 may be, forexample, vinyl ink jet laser paper having an adhesive backing. Oneexample of such weather-resistant or label paper is commerciallyavailable from ONLINE LABELS, INC. The adhesive backing for theweather-resistant paper may include, but is not limited to: glue, paste,epoxy resin, bonding agents or other attachment agents that may be usedto attach the paper to the license plate frame. Moreover, the attachmentagent also may be designed to be removed readily when the user pulls theweather-resistant paper away from the frame. In this manner, the usermay remove the message and more easily display a new customized messagewhen the user sees fit. The user could also paste the new message overthe prior message.

The user may print the message using a color inkjet printer, cut theweather-resistant paper along the prescribed lines, and attach themessage onto the frame using the adhesive backing.

Alternatively, the electronic printing and template may be skippedaltogether and the message may be written onto the weather-resistantpaper with a marker, crayon or other writing apparatus configured towrite onto the weather-resistant paper 360.

The user-customized message can be just about anything the user wishesit to be. However, factors such as the size of font and colors mayfactor into the end user's decision. Such factors may affect thevisibility of the message that the user wishes to convey.

For added protection from the elements, laminate (not shown) may beprovided to overlay the weather-resistant paper. The laminate may haveadditional weather-resistant properties, including but not limited to,protection against the following: UV rays, the effects of heat at highertemperatures; the effects of lower temperatures; wind; precipitationand/or debris. Such laminate is commercially available as DRYTAC.™WEATHERSHIELD.™ LUSTRE UV 100 μ film and DRYTAC.™ WEATHERSHIELD.™EMERYTEX.™ UV 125 μ film. The user-customized license plate frame may befixedly attached to the license plate frame via hardware, including butnot limited to, screws, or nuts and bolts. A spray-on laminate couldalso be sprayed onto the weather-resistant paper after the paper isapplied to the license plate frame.

Referring now to FIG. 5, illustrated is a brochure that shows some typesof messages that could be displayed in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As illustrated, the user-customized message mayrelate to just about any topic that is of interest to the user, e.g.,the user's favorite sports team, a band or other organization, apolitical message, or an advertisement, just to name a few.

While the specification describes particular embodiments of the presentinvention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the presentinvention without departing from the inventive concept.

1. A system for creating a user-customized license plate frame,comprising: at least one license plate frame configured to be positionedon a license plate; a weather-resistant display mount configured toreceive a printed user-customized message, wherein the weather-resistantdisplay mount is configured to be attached to an outer surface of thelicense plate frame; and a computer-readable medium that containsprogram instructions configured to receive input of a user-customizedmessage and format the user-customized message for printing onto theweather-resistant display mount.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomputer readable medium that contains program instructions is furtherconfigured to cause the display of an electronic template configured toreceive text and graphics that represent a user-customized message, andwherein the electronic template is further configured to define adisplay area that represents the outer surface of the license plateframe.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable mediumfurther contains displayable instructions for creating a user-customizedmessage and printing the message onto the weather-resistant displaymount.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: printedinstructions for creating a user-customized message, printing theuser-customized message onto the weather-resistant display mount, andattaching the weather-resistant display mount to the license plateframe.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one license plateframe is composed of plastic.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomputer readable medium further contains program instructions thatcause the printing of lines on the weather-resistant display mount,wherein the lines represent areas of the weather-resistant display mountto be detached before attaching the weather-resistant display mount tothe license plate frame.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:laminate configured to overlay the weather-resistant display mount.
 8. Auser-customizable license plate frame assembly system, comprising: atleast one substantially rectangular license plate frame configured to befixedly positioned onto a license plate; at least one sheet ofadhesive-backed weather-resistant paper configured to receive a printeduser-customized message, wherein the weather-resistant paper isconfigured to be attached to an outer surface of the license plateframe; and an electronic template configured to receive text andgraphics that represent a user-customized message, and wherein theelectronic template is further configured to define a display area thatrepresents at least a portion of an outer surface of a license plateframe.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer readable mediumfurther contains displayable instructions for creating a user-customizedmessage and printing the message onto the weather-resistant paper. 10.The system of claim 8, further comprising: printed instructions forcreating a user-customized message, printing the user-customized messageonto the weather-resistant paper, and attaching the weather-resistantpaper to the license plate frame.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein theat least one license plate frame is composed of plastic.
 12. The systemof claim 8, wherein each at least one license plate frame is a differentcolor.
 13. The system of claim 8, further comprising: laminateconfigured to overlay the weather-resistant paper.
 14. A computerreadable medium containing program instructions for creating auser-customized license plate frame which, when executed by a computerprocessor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: causing thedisplay of an electronic template configured to receive text andgraphics that represent a user-customized message, and wherein theelectronic template is further configured to define a display area thatrepresents an outer surface of the license plate frame; receiving inputof the user-customized message; and formatting the user-customizedmessage for printing onto a weather-resistant display mount that isconfigured to be positioned on the license plate frame.
 15. A method forcreating a user-customized license plate frame, comprising: providing atleast one license plate frame that is configured to be positioned on alicense plate; causing the display of an electronic template configuredto receive text and graphics that represent a user-customized message,and wherein the electronic template is further configured to define adisplay area that represents an outer surface of the license plateframe; receiving electronic input of the user-customized message;providing a weather-resistant display mount that is configured toreceive a printed user-customized message, wherein the weather-resistantdisplay mount is configured to be attached to an outer surface of thelicense plate frame; and electronically formatting the user-customizedmessage for printing onto the weather-resistant display mount.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the weather-resistant display mount is paperhaving an adhesive backing.
 17. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: providing printed instructions for creating auser-customized message, printing the user-customized message onto theweather-resistant display mount, and printed instructions for attachingthe weather-resistant display mount to the license plate frame.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the at least one license plate frame iscomposed of plastic.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein each at leastone license plate frame is a different color.
 20. The method of claim15, further comprising: providing laminate configured to overlay theweather-resistant display mount.